Rose plant/var.: Morfire

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant primarily identified by its very double flowers with the petals being yellow tipped red.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety beingprimarily characterized -- as to novelty -- by the very double flowers,the petals being generally deep yellow tipped with red.

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom, with flowers usually borne singly, but alsoseveral to the stem in loose cluster or spray.

Little or no fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded to upright shape with smallsemi-glossy foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowers beingsimilar in form to Pink Petticoat (miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,636).

The plant, which has a normal height of 14-16 inches, can easily bemaintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots; and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at SequoiaNursery, located at Visalia, Calif., under conditions of careful controland observation, as a cross between Pink Petticoat (U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,636 -- miniature) as the seed parent and Gold Badge (Meigronuri --Floribunda -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,625) as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully asexuallyreproduced it at Sequoia Nursery, located as aforesaid, by budding aswell as by cuttings; the reproductions having run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety including the foliage, budsand flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to The BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; dwarf; bushy; upright; seedling; greenhouse; outdoors; cutflowers; garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature. Variety identification: Morfire (Commercial synonym:Ring Of Fire).

Flowers borne: Singly and several together in loose clusters or spray onsturdy, wirey stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green,sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); nearly smooth or with some smallhair-like apendages. Before calyx breaks; size -- small.

Form.--Ovoid to pointed, with several small foliaceous apendages onsurface of bud; with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of thebud equal to more than one-half of its length.

Color.--Medium green, occasionally tinted with bronze (outdoors). Ascalyx breaks, color -- yellow with red on petal tip.

Opening.--Ppens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 35 mm (11/2").

Petalage.--Very double -- averaging about 65 (or more) petals, arrangedregularly plus several small petaloids.

Form.--Full, high centered -- first becoming rounded with petals rolledloosly outward and downward. Open flowers usually have no stamens.

Petals: Fairly thick; satiny on inside and on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals, broad lanceolate (wedge shaped) with roundedtip; intermediate -- broad lanceolate with nearly round or short acutetip; inside -- lanceolate with acute tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown outdoors (August 1987),Visalia, Calif.

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- yellow (near Saffron Yellow 7/2)edged or tipped with red. Inside surface -- near Indian Yellow 6/1 orSaffron Yellow 7/2 with petal edged or tipped with red (wider than onreverse with the red banding sometimes blending or bleeding into theyellow color.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface similar to outside petal. Insidesurface similar to outside petal.

Inner petal.--Outside surface similar to intermediate petal; insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal. General color effect; newlyopened flowers -- orange (a red on yellow effect). Three days open --color -- similar to fresh open flower, but less bright. Behavior --opens well in all weather. Spent petals or flowers drop off. Flowerlongevity (July-August 1987) -- plant in pot 8-10 days or longer. Cutflowers at living room temperature 5-7 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Usually none.

Filaments.--Usually none.

Anthers.--Usually none.

Pollen.--None.

Pistils.--Small number.

Styles.--Short length; reddish; bunched.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--None.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved.

Seed.--None.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; mediumsmall; leathery; semi-glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: broad lanceolate; apex acute; base -- acute --sometimes rounded. Color: medium green; new growth -- normal (medium)green (sometimes tinted reddish). Rachis: medium strength; upperside mayhave a few short hairs; grooved; underside may have several small thorns(or claws) and few to several tiny short prickles. Stipules: medium toshort length; medium width; medium to short length narrow points whichturn out usually at about 45 degrees or more.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; upright; much branched.

Growth.--Vigorous; internodes short.

Canes.--Medium; slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color: medium green.

Thorns.--Average, of varying size and length -- slightly hooked orinclined downward. Hairs -- few or none.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, upright, much branched habit,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers, basically yellow and edged with red, the bud being pointed inthe early opening stage, resembling in form Pink Petticoat (Miniature --U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,636) with the open flower being very full (double)and rounded with many (65 or more) petals; and further characterized bya plant of compact, vigorous, upright shape, with main stems and shootsof average thorniness, the said plant being easy to propagate from softwood cuttings with an abundance of small semi-glossy foliage, theflowers being borne singly or several together in loose clusters orspray on medium length stems.